Satellite city planned for Bangkok

Construction of a satellite city outside Bangkok in Thailand should begin next year, according to prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Construction of a satellite city outside Bangkok in Thailand should begin next year, according to prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The project would cost less than 100 billion bath (US$2.5 billion) and private investments would be welcome, Mr Thaksin said. The new city, to be modelled on Japan’s Tama district, would have schools, hospitals and first-class hotels, but not too many government offices. “We give most importance to good living, a clean environment, good health and good services. It will be a modern city,” the prime minister said. The site, located between Nakhon Nayok and Saraburi provinces, was a fertile area with plenty of water and is not too far from Bangkok. An electric train system and a highway could be built to link the city with Bangkok. It would largely be a residential area. Construction of roads and infrastructure projects would be funded by the state. Government spokesman Sita Divari said construction would take 6 to 8 years to complete.